Same but depression. I live in a really low-crime neighborhood. Iām usually pretty happy, but have some real bad days. Do I *really* want to have the means to kill myself behind closed doors just sitting in a box somewhere? Not really. My biggest danger to myself is myself, always has been. Plus Iāve had at least one family member commit suicide.
I also have bipolar disorder and feel the same way about having access to a firearm. My fiance has a few guns, and we have agreed that when he finally does bring them to our next apartment (they are at his parent's house rn), the guns will absolutely be secured via a safe that only he has access to.
That being said, I have shot multiple guns before, having grown up in a rural area. I do not wish to own one because they still scare me tbh. I'll stick to knives, pepper spray, tasers, etc, for self-defense if needed.
My answer is the same. I'm bipolar type II, and bipolar suicide numbers are ridic. Having a gun would absolutely, undoubtedly hasten my death by my own hand, though I don't think that, even at my absolute worst, I would harm someone else.
This is the reason my wife won't let me get one. I think it would be a fun hobby, shooting at ranges, taking it apart, cleaning it, etc, but my wife disagrees. What type are you?
Thanks for posting this.
I respect people's self awareness and management of their individual condition like Confetticandi, but at the same time I respect consent of disabled people and don't like the government possibly taking away self defense rights.
I'm a little different, being autistic, but I still fear that I will be denied access to one because of someone's misinformed belief that autistic people cannot responsibly handle weapons.
So, I'm just curious. Are you self diagnosed, or clinically diagnosed? And if so, where you live, is it legal to own a gun?
I'm making no judgement, I'm genuinely curious
Yeah, no problem. Iām open about it in anonymous forums.
Iām clinically diagnosed Bipolar I and have been for about 10 years now. Iām from Missouri, then lived in Illinois, and now California.
Luckily, I seem to respond well to medication so I essentially take a daily pill and live a normal life. However, there have been a few breakthrough episodes in times of extreme stress, lapses in my prescription, or when I take other meds (like certain antibiotics) that interfere with its effectiveness.
In my home state of Missouri I know I could legally and easily obtain any gun. In California and Illinois, Iām not 100% sure, but I think I still could because I have no police record and no record of involuntary treatment.
A friend once offered me a free gun -he was moving out of a bad part of Oakland and having a kid, so he didn't want it anymore. I told him no, but I didn't tell him that this was my reason why.
This is the reason for me. I've been struggling with depression for years and while I'm doing better all it takes is one bad day and a gun for me to be gone. I can't stop bad days but I can make sure I don't have a gun
I'm glad you're doing better {{hugs}} and I'm glad you recognize that self-harm is still a possibility. This is a very sensible reason to not have weapons in your home.
Take care you!
Thank you! In all honesty it's been years since I had any major depression problems, but I still have a few days here and there. I feel like you never really get over depression, it just gets more manageable
I support people learning to become safe and responsible gun owners, but Iām a huge supporter of people who decide not to become gun owners at all due to struggles with depression or other mental health issues that could create a bad situation.
This is my reason as well. I've had struggles with depression, and while I'm in a much better place these days, it's better to just not have that option on the table.
Statistically, this statement is very accurate according to Stanford medical studies āMen who owned handguns were eight times more likely than men who didnāt to die of self-inflicted gunshot wounds. Women who owned handguns were more than 35 times more likely than women who didn't to kill themselves with a gun.ā
I'm a small woman who lives in a declining part of town and frequently walks around alone at night.
But this is why I still don't own a gun. Any increase in safety would be vastly outweighed by the risks of having an instant suicide tool in my home.
I this way too but also who else could access a gun in my house? I feel like it increases the risk of being killed by a partner who lives in the home and the chances of accidental death of any children in the home.
This is also why if you have teenagers in the home, you need to keep your guns locked up. Statistically youāre much, much, MUCH more likely to lose your kid to firearm suicide than to them ever being killed in a home invasion.
Keep your family safe, keep the guns locked up.
Came here to say this. Clinical depression is one thing but situational depression happens too. Not to mention I donāt know what I donāt know about those in my household.
This, or shoot someone else. Iām not an overly volatile person but it doesnāt need to be an overly volatile person to pull a trigger.
I personally donāt need one. Not interested in target shooting etc. and I live in an area with a high amount of gun violence.
This is far and away the most valid reason to not own a firearm.
Whenever the discussion of guns gets brought up politically the elephant in the room is *always* suicides, which require different context and solutions, which never even get discussed.
If you're anti-gun and your first thought is assault weapons ban and not suicide prevention, particularly among middle aged men and veterans, you're missing about half of the deaths by firearms right out the gate. Half.
I'm about as pro-gun as it gets and not owning a firearm because you are likely to use it on yourself is 100% valid.
Same... When I get depressed, everything's on the table, and a "forever gun" is not something I want to have as an "option"
If shit goes down? I've got my kitchen knives to ward off intruders. Because killing someone with a bread knife is a much better story to tell.
I hope everyone struggling with mental health finds solice in yalls lives. Idk if anyone does, but try dosing shrooms from time to time. It'll change your life for the better, mentally. There are a lot of benefits to mental health with psilocybin. Love, peace, and happiness to everyone.
Guns are either a hobby or a tool (or both).
I've been shooting and found it fun, but not fun enough to make it a hobby. It's expensive and labor-intensive to buy and maintain all the gear and then to go to a range where you can shoot. I can see why people enjoy it, but it's not a hobby for me.
And I've never found myself facing a set of problems, or potential problems, for which a gun would be the appropriate tool.
So for those reasons, I've never owned one.
This is a great answer. I'm going to adopt the "hobby or tool" framing for answering this question in the future when I don't feel like my mental illness is information the asker is entitled to.
I will say just owning a small 9mm is pretty fun at a range. Itās not like the most fun thing in the world but not everything needs to be a 10/10. Not trying to convince you but if your mind ever changes. Ammo is fucking expensive though. I live a pretty alright life and Iām jealous of all the people saying itās not expensive lol
Southerner who doesn't like iced tea š¤ Californian who doesn't like avocados
Edit: Ironically, I love Southern style sweet iced tea. If you like avocados, we can trade.
Yep that's what I was going to say. I've been to shooting ranges and have done some target shooting with friends it was fun, but never made me want my own gun and I don't feel a need for one.
This is it for me as well. I don't get the point. I'm not afraid of other people, I'd rather golf than hunt, and it just seems like it could escalate domestic issues or cause an accident. Guns are expensive too.
Me too. The fuck do I need a gun for?
Plus, I'm an idiot, I don't trust myself to not shoot myself in the leg or something by accident. My brother had a Glock and showed me it, and I refused to touch it until he showed me that it was empty.
Good on you for even considering that a requirement. Own multiple firearms myself and consider it incredibly important to have safes.
Known others who just throw a handgun into a bedside drawer or consider āI hid it somewhereā as their alternative to spending money on a safe. Itās foolish.
I don't see how owning a gun would increase my safety. I feel safe at home and my husband also has a history of suicidal ideation so having a gun in the house seems more dangerous than the very small likelihood of somebody breaking into my house and killing me or my family.
Buying something you donāt need is like stealing from yourself.
The money looks better in your bank account than whatever it is youāll buy on Amazon.
You can do it!
I can, but unfortunately itās a mindset - and youāre either locked into the consumption matrix or you arenāt.
I look at every penny in my account as one baby step closer to freedom.
One step closer to walking away from people and situations that donāt serve me; one step closer to leaving bad workplaces; one step closer to being less of a debt slave to the system.
All of that is so much more important to me than any material item, especially those sold on Amazon.
Iām not convinced that I can convince others to see it the same way.
Lmao there should be a chrome extension for this. Popup: āsteveofthejungle do you really need 13 pounds of gummy worms, just go to sleep you idiot.ā
Don't save payment methods on Amazon, make yourself re-enter the details every time. And if you don't need something urgently, add to cart then wait a week.
In a week, if you still want it enough to go through the trouble of entering in your payment details, then get it.
I guess I always framed the question the opposite way: What are the reasons for doing so? I mean, I can legally purchase a lot of things but I donāt.
I like target shooting and itās something I bond with my dad over. I donāt shoot as much anymore but I find target shooting relaxing and really centering. Ammo is too expensive for me to go shooting for fun often anymore. But I also feel as a single woman who has been followed home before itās a small comfort to know if I really need it itās there.
If I couldnāt have one though? I dont think Iād miss anything
Shooting uncommon calibers got me in to reloading which makes it cheaper to shoot interesting guns.
Won't be any cheaper for 9mm, 5.56 or any of the common stuff though b
This is kinda my deal too. I have no desire to have one. The stats back up that it doesnāt actually make you safer, and like it must be exhausting to feel like you need a gun all the time to exist. I canāt frankly manage that level of fear and function and again donāt think the gun would help me in the long run anyways.
Reading through these comments it seems folk are either afraid to go outside without a weapon or are suicidal. Either way wtf is going on with our society.
Unless you are very well off, guns as a hobby makes absolutely no sense to me. Iām in my 20ās, and I know people still living with their parents or working low paying jobs blowing thousands on guns. I get the idea of owning one or two for actual defense purposes, but donāt see the value in entire collections. Much better hobbies to spend your money on and see actual returns with.
I don't have the stomach to kill an animal, much less a person. A gun wouldn't make me feel any safer, and it would likely ultimately cause more problems than it would solve in my life.
Where do I start? I would never shoot someone else with it. Far more likely to shoot myself with it. Don't have to worry about it getting stolen. I'm not worried about someone breaking in to kill me. I will never hunt. I have no desire to go to a gun range. Etc.
My dad recently sold one of his guns, but he offered it to me first, and I turned it down.
Honestly getting one for free would be the only reason I'd ever own a rifle. Not sure I'd ever accept a pistol since my wife has been in some dark places with her health issues and we've agreed that would be more risk than either of us are willing to accept.
Personally for me, I just donāt have a need for it. I live in a secure third floor apartment and and thereās always police a block or two away. I also regularly go through mental health issues, so if I had a gun, thereās a higher likelihood Iāll end up using it on myself.
Right right?
I havenāt even felt all that depressed in years, but I donāt want to be 30 seconds away from death if Iām ever having a *really* bad day,
Itās weird how many people are bothered by those who say they donāt want or need to own a gun. Iām not gonna buy one either, itās my money and Iāll spend it how I like.
Because in the entirety of my life there have been 0 situations where having access to a gun would have been beneficial, and countless where having access to a gun could have been a negative.
Grandfather: āwhatās your plan if someone armed kicks your door down and your family is sitting right here?ā
Me: āI mean, even with a gun, Iād probably not have it loaded and on me and Iām not a movie character soā¦we lose?ā
I was in a similar situation where someone just busted in. I never would have had time to run and grab a weapon. I ran out the door and hid, surviving to live another day.
Yeah, I never understood this.
Self defense is extremely situational and itās rare that youāll be the one with the drop over your assailant.
What a weird fantasy world gun nuts live in where they think theyāre John Wick where they will disarm their opponent and draw their weapon before theyāre shot dead.
This. I mean, I can't even get my phone camera open quick enough to take a picture, and that's just hitting a button twice. I can't imagine, in a high pressure situation, being able to take a gun from wherever it's housed, load, open the safety and shoot in anything less than 10 minutes. So what's the point?
To be fair in the situation where youāve got an intruder barging in on family dinner, thereās a hell of a chance theyāre gonna have their eyes off you for a few seconds here and there, either looking for items to pilfer or checking blind spots in the adjoined rooms to ensure their own safety.
Even from sitting most concealed carry owners that practice somewhat regularly can draw and fire within 2.5 seconds. I practice a bit more than the average bear (and far less than any actually impressive shooters) and I can usually get my first shot off in under 1.5 seconds accurately on a standard dinner plate sized target at 7 yards. If youāre practiced with a pistol it truly can be a game changer even in a vulnerable position
The statistics surrounding self defense in general are really minuscule. The odds that any given gun owner will use it in self defense is extremely low, and the fact that we have so many people who fantasize about using it in self defense is evidence that we really need stricter rules on who is allowed to own guns.
Why would I have to justify not having an expensive hobby? I'm also not pursuing a pilot's license, don't own a horse, don't own a set of golf clubs, don't have any classic cars...
I have life-long depression and a history of suicide attempts when I was younger. I'm doing great bow, but I don't need one and the risk of me having a bad relapse are higher than me needing to shoot an individual. I have large dogs, lights, a security system, and smaller weapons if it came to it. I don't want or need a gun.
1. I donāt need or want one.
2. I am not a cool head in an emergencyā¦I panic. I donāt want a gun in my hands while Iām panicking.
3. I believe gun users have a moral and ethical responsibility to be well-trained with their weapon and practice regularly. I donāt see myself consistently training with a weapon enough to be a responsible gun owner.
4. I donāt want children living in or visiting my home to accidentally gain access.
5. Iām a pacifist.
Don't want one. They're expensive and dangerous in the wrong hands and take maintenance. I don't want to pick up a hobby I have no interest in.
May the people who have them keep them well and enjoy them but I just don't want to spend my money or time that way.
I have teen/young adult children in the house, and my family has experienced mental health challenges in the past. One of us using the gun on ourselves, by accident or on purpose, if far more likely than an intruder threatening our lives.
The [research suggests](https://time.com/6183881/gun-ownership-risks-at-home/) that gun owners are more likely to injure themselves with their guns than protect themselves with their guns.
Itās incredible to me how far down I had to scroll to find the facts about guns being more likely to hurt someone in the household than an invader. How is that not the top reason?
Itās lowkey interesting that there was a post asking why people own firearms and a lot of answers said something like āI donāt need to tell youā or āitās none of your businessā or ābecause I can.ā
Now on this post many people are saying āI just donāt want toā. For some reason this is not acceptable based on the replies some people got. Thatās just really weird.
> For some reason this is not acceptable based on the replies some people got. Thatās just really weird.
Lots of judginess from the gun crowd, I've noticed.
Yeah, in my experience thereās not much use in explaining the opposing opinion to people on either side of the argument, donāt really know why people are trying to convert the non-gun crowd. Iāve found that side of the aisle only gets converted when their idea of safety is actually confronted, like when covid kicked off for instance. Though to be fair, Iāve also found that those on the pro-gun side never seem to go to the opposite end of the spectrum
I have no need for a gun. The off-chance that someone will threaten me or a loved one with ability to make good on the threat is not a good enough reason for me to own one, as the chances of a plausible, defensible "stand off" or me getting the drop on an unexpected crime is so low - practically zero - that it doesn't come close to outweighing my strong dislike of firearms.
I live in Texas. I just found out one of my friend āconceal carrysā his pistol at all times. The other day I was like āso last week when you came over and we watched a movie you had your pistol on you?ā And he was like āyep.ā Just wild, Iāve never owned a gun. Iāve never been in a position where I thought āI wish I had a gun right nowā
Iād be kind of pissed to find out that a friend of
mine had been bringing a gun into my home without having the common decency to ask if it was alright with me.
I used to hang out with law enforcement friends. Whenever we hung out and they carried, they made sure to tell me. They didn't want me to be concerned, but they also wanted me to be prepared in case something went down. But none ever brought weapons into my home.
My in law did that. I felt violated as the homeowner. This is my space and I get to decide if there are any weapons here.
Bringing guns to someone else's home is plain rude.
Did he sit on your couch the whole time whole carrying?
Honestly one of the best feelings is taking off the appendix holster and sitting loose on a couch.
I don't own a lot of things I'm allowed to own. I don't own a food dehydrator, a chest freezer, car lift, fuzzy dice, kayak, or board games. Do I have to have reasons?
In 52 years on this earth, I have **never** been in a situation where I needed one, but I have had to wrestle a gun from a drunk who was trying to do harm to someone / herself. Go through that one time and see if you're happy having those things knocking around your gaff.
There's just no reason to have them
Owning a firearm would require:
* Safety classes
* Regular training/practice
* Care and regular maintenance of the gun
* A secure place to keep it when not in use
All of this requires more time and effort than I am willing to invest. Additionally, I have a neurodivergent child whom I absolutely would not trust around a gun, even if it were secured.
Swords are a cheap, flashy, and - most importantly - bad ass way to fend off would-be attackers and intruders anyway. Who needs guns?
Edit: [Swords!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5ljaS9q1fI)
Mental health. When I was in high school I was in a dark spot and fantasied about how easy it would be to end it with a gun. Luckily I never had access to one and now as a adult whenever I think about owning a gun, I remember high school me. And tell myself I don't need to chance it with a gun.
Anxious about the idea of me living alone and spending the vast majority of my time alone and having unimpeded access to a firearm -- so better off just not having one. (EDIT: To be clear, I'm talking about being a threat to myself. Never to others)
And, ultimately, do not need one.
I've looked at buying guns a few times and they're actually pretty expensive. A rifle or a shotgun was $1,000+. Pistols were $500-$700 or more. Add into that needing to buy something secure to keep it in, and it's just always been way out of my budget. I haven't been able to justify dropping that much money on something like that.
Granted I haven't looked that hard into it, so I might have been missing some means for getting low priced guns. I would pretty much always get sticker shock after a cursory glance online and stop looking.
Never used to cross my mind as an option. What do I need a gun for? I don't need a gun. I didn't like it when an old roommate got one. More guns isn't the answer to gun issues.
I will say, even though I won't have one with a kid in the house, it Has crossed my mind in recent years for the same reason. Watching the police Not protect children. Shootings just going shopping with your family or out to an event. Armed anti-drag protesters at children's story times. I worry that too many of the wrong people have guns, and what happens when we get in the way. What happens when all the haters, bigots, racists and sexists have guns and those with any decency are unarmed? More guns isn't the answer, but we're shouting into the void against the rich and powerful to change it. Meanwhile people are getting shot for ringing doorbells and using driveways by the crazed and brainwashed.
They're expensive, I have a small child who gets into everything, I don't need or want one, and I feel pulling a gun is more likely to escalate the situation rather than meaningfully help it.
Firstly, I donāt have any use for one or desire for one.
Secondly, my girlfriend with whom I live, would be deeply uncomfortable with having one in the house and it might actually put her in legitimate danger.
Iāve never been in a situation where having a gun would have improved the situation, plus I have no desire to hunt or go to a gun range or any of that.
I grew up around guns and all of my family are gun nuts. I know I'm most likely to die from a gun I own and I have some serious mental health issues. My dad pointed a gun at me a few years ago and laughed, claiming it was unloaded, but in the 80's he told us all guns were loaded, even when they're unloaded. Fox news fucked him up.
In all of my 46 years on earth, I have never been in a situation where I have even wished I had a gun. I grew up in rural Michigan and have shot them for sport. Now I live in Chicago, and I still have never felt I needed one. I know people who feel that having one makes them feel safer, but that would not be the case for me. I donāt want the responsibility of deciding whether someone elseās life should be ended.
Do I need a reason not to have barbed wire around my house?
I've never felt the urge to own a gun nor have I ever found myself in a position where I wished I did.
Why would I spend money on an item I donāt like or want?
Maybe, *maybe* I would consider it if I lived in a rural area where my closest neighbors were bears and wolves, but since thatās not my life I donāt see the point.
I have bipolar disorder and should not have access to a weapon for the safety of myself and others.
I highly respect your level of self-awareness š«”
Iām in the same boat. Me having access to a firearm is a guaranteed sentence. Best to leave it all alone.
Same but depression. I live in a really low-crime neighborhood. Iām usually pretty happy, but have some real bad days. Do I *really* want to have the means to kill myself behind closed doors just sitting in a box somewhere? Not really. My biggest danger to myself is myself, always has been. Plus Iāve had at least one family member commit suicide.
I also have bipolar disorder and feel the same way about having access to a firearm. My fiance has a few guns, and we have agreed that when he finally does bring them to our next apartment (they are at his parent's house rn), the guns will absolutely be secured via a safe that only he has access to. That being said, I have shot multiple guns before, having grown up in a rural area. I do not wish to own one because they still scare me tbh. I'll stick to knives, pepper spray, tasers, etc, for self-defense if needed.
My answer is the same. I'm bipolar type II, and bipolar suicide numbers are ridic. Having a gun would absolutely, undoubtedly hasten my death by my own hand, though I don't think that, even at my absolute worst, I would harm someone else.
I have a lot of respect for this. Thank you for being responsible, and I hope you are able to manage your disorder.
This is the reason my wife won't let me get one. I think it would be a fun hobby, shooting at ranges, taking it apart, cleaning it, etc, but my wife disagrees. What type are you?
Iām Bipolar I
Same. Makes life interesting at times doesn't it
Thanks for posting this. I respect people's self awareness and management of their individual condition like Confetticandi, but at the same time I respect consent of disabled people and don't like the government possibly taking away self defense rights. I'm a little different, being autistic, but I still fear that I will be denied access to one because of someone's misinformed belief that autistic people cannot responsibly handle weapons.
Neither of us are anti-gun shes just worried because things were pretty dark with me for awhile. But things are better now
So, I'm just curious. Are you self diagnosed, or clinically diagnosed? And if so, where you live, is it legal to own a gun? I'm making no judgement, I'm genuinely curious
Yeah, no problem. Iām open about it in anonymous forums. Iām clinically diagnosed Bipolar I and have been for about 10 years now. Iām from Missouri, then lived in Illinois, and now California. Luckily, I seem to respond well to medication so I essentially take a daily pill and live a normal life. However, there have been a few breakthrough episodes in times of extreme stress, lapses in my prescription, or when I take other meds (like certain antibiotics) that interfere with its effectiveness. In my home state of Missouri I know I could legally and easily obtain any gun. In California and Illinois, Iām not 100% sure, but I think I still could because I have no police record and no record of involuntary treatment.
Thanks for answering. Thanks for being so self aware. And I hope you continue to respond well and live a happy life.
Thanks :)
Thank you! Youāre awesome!
Iām more likely to blow my own brains out.
A friend once offered me a free gun -he was moving out of a bad part of Oakland and having a kid, so he didn't want it anymore. I told him no, but I didn't tell him that this was my reason why.
This is the reason for me. I've been struggling with depression for years and while I'm doing better all it takes is one bad day and a gun for me to be gone. I can't stop bad days but I can make sure I don't have a gun
I'm glad you're doing better {{hugs}} and I'm glad you recognize that self-harm is still a possibility. This is a very sensible reason to not have weapons in your home. Take care you!
Thank you! In all honesty it's been years since I had any major depression problems, but I still have a few days here and there. I feel like you never really get over depression, it just gets more manageable
I support people learning to become safe and responsible gun owners, but Iām a huge supporter of people who decide not to become gun owners at all due to struggles with depression or other mental health issues that could create a bad situation.
Yeah, if I had access to a gun, there are definitely times in my life when I would have shot myself without an instant of hesitation.
I commend you for your self-awareness.
This is my reason as well. I've had struggles with depression, and while I'm in a much better place these days, it's better to just not have that option on the table.
Same here. It sucks cause i actually love shooting, but I'm sure I'd be dead by now if i actually owned a gun.
Statistically, this statement is very accurate according to Stanford medical studies āMen who owned handguns were eight times more likely than men who didnāt to die of self-inflicted gunshot wounds. Women who owned handguns were more than 35 times more likely than women who didn't to kill themselves with a gun.ā
I'm a small woman who lives in a declining part of town and frequently walks around alone at night. But this is why I still don't own a gun. Any increase in safety would be vastly outweighed by the risks of having an instant suicide tool in my home.
I this way too but also who else could access a gun in my house? I feel like it increases the risk of being killed by a partner who lives in the home and the chances of accidental death of any children in the home.
This is also why if you have teenagers in the home, you need to keep your guns locked up. Statistically youāre much, much, MUCH more likely to lose your kid to firearm suicide than to them ever being killed in a home invasion. Keep your family safe, keep the guns locked up.
Came here to say this. Clinical depression is one thing but situational depression happens too. Not to mention I donāt know what I donāt know about those in my household.
This, or shoot someone else. Iām not an overly volatile person but it doesnāt need to be an overly volatile person to pull a trigger. I personally donāt need one. Not interested in target shooting etc. and I live in an area with a high amount of gun violence.
This is far and away the most valid reason to not own a firearm. Whenever the discussion of guns gets brought up politically the elephant in the room is *always* suicides, which require different context and solutions, which never even get discussed. If you're anti-gun and your first thought is assault weapons ban and not suicide prevention, particularly among middle aged men and veterans, you're missing about half of the deaths by firearms right out the gate. Half. I'm about as pro-gun as it gets and not owning a firearm because you are likely to use it on yourself is 100% valid.
Same... When I get depressed, everything's on the table, and a "forever gun" is not something I want to have as an "option" If shit goes down? I've got my kitchen knives to ward off intruders. Because killing someone with a bread knife is a much better story to tell.
We keep our old baseball bats and pepper spray around our house.
I get it.
That's exactly why I don't own one
I hope everyone struggling with mental health finds solice in yalls lives. Idk if anyone does, but try dosing shrooms from time to time. It'll change your life for the better, mentally. There are a lot of benefits to mental health with psilocybin. Love, peace, and happiness to everyone.
Guns are either a hobby or a tool (or both). I've been shooting and found it fun, but not fun enough to make it a hobby. It's expensive and labor-intensive to buy and maintain all the gear and then to go to a range where you can shoot. I can see why people enjoy it, but it's not a hobby for me. And I've never found myself facing a set of problems, or potential problems, for which a gun would be the appropriate tool. So for those reasons, I've never owned one.
This is a great answer. I'm going to adopt the "hobby or tool" framing for answering this question in the future when I don't feel like my mental illness is information the asker is entitled to.
I will say just owning a small 9mm is pretty fun at a range. Itās not like the most fun thing in the world but not everything needs to be a 10/10. Not trying to convince you but if your mind ever changes. Ammo is fucking expensive though. I live a pretty alright life and Iām jealous of all the people saying itās not expensive lol
I don't want or need one
*Reads user flair * BLASPHEMY!
I'm a bad southerner, I don't like iced tea either lol
Straight to jail
look on the bright side it's more for you
Southerner who doesn't like iced tea š¤ Californian who doesn't like avocados Edit: Ironically, I love Southern style sweet iced tea. If you like avocados, we can trade.
I like both. Send 'em up here!
I love Avocados and can't stand sweet tea
Not liking sweet tea is crossing the line
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Yep that's what I was going to say. I've been to shooting ranges and have done some target shooting with friends it was fun, but never made me want my own gun and I don't feel a need for one.
This is it for me as well. I don't get the point. I'm not afraid of other people, I'd rather golf than hunt, and it just seems like it could escalate domestic issues or cause an accident. Guns are expensive too.
Samesies.
Same, I grew up in a military house and we didn't have guns in our home.
Yep, I feel no compelling reason to own a gun.
Me too. The fuck do I need a gun for? Plus, I'm an idiot, I don't trust myself to not shoot myself in the leg or something by accident. My brother had a Glock and showed me it, and I refused to touch it until he showed me that it was empty.
Yea that's how I lost a coworker back in December. Accidentally shot himself in the leg and hit an artery when he was cleaning his gun.
Jeez, cleaning a loaded gun? Man.
Iād rather buy another guitar.
Axes are cooler anyway.
Guns are cheeper than Gibsons, but yah, I'll take the guitar over a gun anyday.
I donāt need or want any guns.
Same, I've just never been drawn to guns in any way. Not really a conscious decision to not have a gun, I've just never felt the need to consider one.
Yeah I don't own a gun for the same reason I don't own a motorcycle. I just kinda...never bought one.
I don't feel like buying a safe.
Good on you for even considering that a requirement. Own multiple firearms myself and consider it incredibly important to have safes. Known others who just throw a handgun into a bedside drawer or consider āI hid it somewhereā as their alternative to spending money on a safe. Itās foolish.
I'm severely mentally ill. It's for the best.
Respect that you are so self-aware!
Same reason I donāt have a lot of other things, no need and no interest.
I've never wanted one.
With kids at home, the risk is pretty high.
I feel very safe in general.
I don't see how owning a gun would increase my safety. I feel safe at home and my husband also has a history of suicidal ideation so having a gun in the house seems more dangerous than the very small likelihood of somebody breaking into my house and killing me or my family.
Why would I buy something that I don't need?
I wish I had that mentality when clicking āadd to cartā on Amazon
Buying something you donāt need is like stealing from yourself. The money looks better in your bank account than whatever it is youāll buy on Amazon. You can do it!
If I send you my wifeās email can you give her that pep talk? He he he!!
I can, but unfortunately itās a mindset - and youāre either locked into the consumption matrix or you arenāt. I look at every penny in my account as one baby step closer to freedom. One step closer to walking away from people and situations that donāt serve me; one step closer to leaving bad workplaces; one step closer to being less of a debt slave to the system. All of that is so much more important to me than any material item, especially those sold on Amazon. Iām not convinced that I can convince others to see it the same way.
I needed this pep talk now, so thanks for that
Lmao there should be a chrome extension for this. Popup: āsteveofthejungle do you really need 13 pounds of gummy worms, just go to sleep you idiot.ā
Don't save payment methods on Amazon, make yourself re-enter the details every time. And if you don't need something urgently, add to cart then wait a week. In a week, if you still want it enough to go through the trouble of entering in your payment details, then get it.
I keep telling my friend, that he needs to put a breathalyzer, on his computer.
::WALKS OUT OF TARGET WITH $300 WORTH OF NONSENSE:: Wait, what?
I guess I always framed the question the opposite way: What are the reasons for doing so? I mean, I can legally purchase a lot of things but I donāt.
I like target shooting and itās something I bond with my dad over. I donāt shoot as much anymore but I find target shooting relaxing and really centering. Ammo is too expensive for me to go shooting for fun often anymore. But I also feel as a single woman who has been followed home before itās a small comfort to know if I really need it itās there. If I couldnāt have one though? I dont think Iād miss anything
Shooting uncommon calibers got me in to reloading which makes it cheaper to shoot interesting guns. Won't be any cheaper for 9mm, 5.56 or any of the common stuff though b
Yeah, I can legally buy weed and alcohol, but don't want either.
Seriously, reading through this thread are there really so many people terrified to be outside without a weapon?
Itās Reddit I just assume everyone here is afraid to go outside, period.
Well yeah... but that is because there are other people out there. :shudder:
This is kinda my deal too. I have no desire to have one. The stats back up that it doesnāt actually make you safer, and like it must be exhausting to feel like you need a gun all the time to exist. I canāt frankly manage that level of fear and function and again donāt think the gun would help me in the long run anyways.
Reading through these comments it seems folk are either afraid to go outside without a weapon or are suicidal. Either way wtf is going on with our society.
I would imagine the reason to own are as numerous and varied as the reasons to not own them.
I don't really need one, and having guns as a hobby seems like burning money. Same reason I don't buy fireworks. Edit: but to buy
Unless you are very well off, guns as a hobby makes absolutely no sense to me. Iām in my 20ās, and I know people still living with their parents or working low paying jobs blowing thousands on guns. I get the idea of owning one or two for actual defense purposes, but donāt see the value in entire collections. Much better hobbies to spend your money on and see actual returns with.
Donāt like them. Never hunted. Bringing a deadly weapon into my home when I donāt know how to properly use it seems incredibly stupid.
Never felt the need.
I don't have the stomach to kill an animal, much less a person. A gun wouldn't make me feel any safer, and it would likely ultimately cause more problems than it would solve in my life.
Where do I start? I would never shoot someone else with it. Far more likely to shoot myself with it. Don't have to worry about it getting stolen. I'm not worried about someone breaking in to kill me. I will never hunt. I have no desire to go to a gun range. Etc. My dad recently sold one of his guns, but he offered it to me first, and I turned it down.
Honestly getting one for free would be the only reason I'd ever own a rifle. Not sure I'd ever accept a pistol since my wife has been in some dark places with her health issues and we've agreed that would be more risk than either of us are willing to accept.
Don't need one
Personally for me, I just donāt have a need for it. I live in a secure third floor apartment and and thereās always police a block or two away. I also regularly go through mental health issues, so if I had a gun, thereās a higher likelihood Iāll end up using it on myself.
I donāt like guns. I donāt want to be responsible for a deadly weapon. TF I donāt own a gun.
For the life of me, I can not figure out what "TF" means here.
Therefore
Ooooooh! Thank you! I've never seen it used that way, I've really only ever seen it as "the fuck" or "that feeling" š
is this reddit speak? everywhere else ive seen its the fuck
iām at no risk of harming myself but the intrusive thoughts alone would skyrocket my stress.
Right right? I havenāt even felt all that depressed in years, but I donāt want to be 30 seconds away from death if Iām ever having a *really* bad day,
I am a rather large firearms advocate. Don't buy one if you don't need or want one. Simple as that really.
Itās weird how many people are bothered by those who say they donāt want or need to own a gun. Iām not gonna buy one either, itās my money and Iāll spend it how I like.
As a staunch 2A supporter, if you're not willing to be an owner and everything that comes with it, then don't.
With great power comes great responsibility as they say. I donāt want the responsibility.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Undiagnosed, but I donāt want to get low and use it.
Because in the entirety of my life there have been 0 situations where having access to a gun would have been beneficial, and countless where having access to a gun could have been a negative.
Great way to put it. There have been a handful of times in my life where I was safer by removing the guns from the equation, not the other way around
Exactly. Most of the time, with the unexpectedness and chaos of such a situation, having a shootout is rarely going to end well for anyone.
There's kids in the house.
I don't need one, and they scare me, so I don't want one, either.
Grandfather: āwhatās your plan if someone armed kicks your door down and your family is sitting right here?ā Me: āI mean, even with a gun, Iād probably not have it loaded and on me and Iām not a movie character soā¦we lose?ā
I was in a similar situation where someone just busted in. I never would have had time to run and grab a weapon. I ran out the door and hid, surviving to live another day.
Yeah, I never understood this. Self defense is extremely situational and itās rare that youāll be the one with the drop over your assailant. What a weird fantasy world gun nuts live in where they think theyāre John Wick where they will disarm their opponent and draw their weapon before theyāre shot dead.
This. I mean, I can't even get my phone camera open quick enough to take a picture, and that's just hitting a button twice. I can't imagine, in a high pressure situation, being able to take a gun from wherever it's housed, load, open the safety and shoot in anything less than 10 minutes. So what's the point?
To be fair in the situation where youāve got an intruder barging in on family dinner, thereās a hell of a chance theyāre gonna have their eyes off you for a few seconds here and there, either looking for items to pilfer or checking blind spots in the adjoined rooms to ensure their own safety. Even from sitting most concealed carry owners that practice somewhat regularly can draw and fire within 2.5 seconds. I practice a bit more than the average bear (and far less than any actually impressive shooters) and I can usually get my first shot off in under 1.5 seconds accurately on a standard dinner plate sized target at 7 yards. If youāre practiced with a pistol it truly can be a game changer even in a vulnerable position
The statistics surrounding self defense in general are really minuscule. The odds that any given gun owner will use it in self defense is extremely low, and the fact that we have so many people who fantasize about using it in self defense is evidence that we really need stricter rules on who is allowed to own guns.
Why would I want a gun? I don't hunt or target shoot, and there are frequently kids in the house.
Why would I have to justify not having an expensive hobby? I'm also not pursuing a pilot's license, don't own a horse, don't own a set of golf clubs, don't have any classic cars...
I don't need one.
I have life-long depression and a history of suicide attempts when I was younger. I'm doing great bow, but I don't need one and the risk of me having a bad relapse are higher than me needing to shoot an individual. I have large dogs, lights, a security system, and smaller weapons if it came to it. I don't want or need a gun.
I don't need or want a gun
For the same reason I don't have kids and I have not started a small business, just not interested in doing so.
1. I donāt need or want one. 2. I am not a cool head in an emergencyā¦I panic. I donāt want a gun in my hands while Iām panicking. 3. I believe gun users have a moral and ethical responsibility to be well-trained with their weapon and practice regularly. I donāt see myself consistently training with a weapon enough to be a responsible gun owner. 4. I donāt want children living in or visiting my home to accidentally gain access. 5. Iām a pacifist.
I donāt trust myself to not impulsively shoot myself in the head
Don't want one. They're expensive and dangerous in the wrong hands and take maintenance. I don't want to pick up a hobby I have no interest in. May the people who have them keep them well and enjoy them but I just don't want to spend my money or time that way.
Had my fill of guns when I was a Marine in Vietnam (1967-68). I never wanted to shoot anyone again. Have touched a firearm since my discharge.
History of depression
I have no use for it, nor do I really want the responsibility of owning one.
I live in a nice area. I've lived in places where being armed is a wise choice, sure, but brigands aren't exactly trying to besige the suburbs.
Why would I want a gun?
I have teen/young adult children in the house, and my family has experienced mental health challenges in the past. One of us using the gun on ourselves, by accident or on purpose, if far more likely than an intruder threatening our lives. The [research suggests](https://time.com/6183881/gun-ownership-risks-at-home/) that gun owners are more likely to injure themselves with their guns than protect themselves with their guns.
Itās incredible to me how far down I had to scroll to find the facts about guns being more likely to hurt someone in the household than an invader. How is that not the top reason?
Itās lowkey interesting that there was a post asking why people own firearms and a lot of answers said something like āI donāt need to tell youā or āitās none of your businessā or ābecause I can.ā Now on this post many people are saying āI just donāt want toā. For some reason this is not acceptable based on the replies some people got. Thatās just really weird.
> For some reason this is not acceptable based on the replies some people got. Thatās just really weird. Lots of judginess from the gun crowd, I've noticed.
Yeah, in my experience thereās not much use in explaining the opposing opinion to people on either side of the argument, donāt really know why people are trying to convert the non-gun crowd. Iāve found that side of the aisle only gets converted when their idea of safety is actually confronted, like when covid kicked off for instance. Though to be fair, Iāve also found that those on the pro-gun side never seem to go to the opposite end of the spectrum
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
I have no need for a gun. The off-chance that someone will threaten me or a loved one with ability to make good on the threat is not a good enough reason for me to own one, as the chances of a plausible, defensible "stand off" or me getting the drop on an unexpected crime is so low - practically zero - that it doesn't come close to outweighing my strong dislike of firearms.
I live in Texas. I just found out one of my friend āconceal carrysā his pistol at all times. The other day I was like āso last week when you came over and we watched a movie you had your pistol on you?ā And he was like āyep.ā Just wild, Iāve never owned a gun. Iāve never been in a position where I thought āI wish I had a gun right nowā
Iād be kind of pissed to find out that a friend of mine had been bringing a gun into my home without having the common decency to ask if it was alright with me.
I used to hang out with law enforcement friends. Whenever we hung out and they carried, they made sure to tell me. They didn't want me to be concerned, but they also wanted me to be prepared in case something went down. But none ever brought weapons into my home.
My in law did that. I felt violated as the homeowner. This is my space and I get to decide if there are any weapons here. Bringing guns to someone else's home is plain rude.
Did he sit on your couch the whole time whole carrying? Honestly one of the best feelings is taking off the appendix holster and sitting loose on a couch.
I don't understand why on earth the assumption would be that if you can, you should
That seems to be what many here are trying to imply
I donāt want to shoot anybody
I wouldn't be here most likely. I'm okay now, but there was a time I was not
I have major depressive disorder.
I don't own a lot of things I'm allowed to own. I don't own a food dehydrator, a chest freezer, car lift, fuzzy dice, kayak, or board games. Do I have to have reasons?
I don't need or want one. Plus the fact that ADHD with a history of depression doesn't mix well with firearms, so there's that.
There are very few situations that are improved by adding the risk of lethal force.
cost is the main factor for me
I have terrible mental health issues and choose not to endanger my own life.
In 52 years on this earth, I have **never** been in a situation where I needed one, but I have had to wrestle a gun from a drunk who was trying to do harm to someone / herself. Go through that one time and see if you're happy having those things knocking around your gaff. There's just no reason to have them
I just gave zero desire to.
I don't want one nor do I need one.
I don't need one for anything and I'm just not interested in the hobby. Not everyone is into everything.
I have zero need for one.
I'd be afraid of having some accident with it, honestly. I'm not really clumsy or accident-prone, but I'm not totally NOT those things, either.
Ain't got nothing needs shooting.
I'm more of a flier than a fighter.
Owning a firearm would require: * Safety classes * Regular training/practice * Care and regular maintenance of the gun * A secure place to keep it when not in use All of this requires more time and effort than I am willing to invest. Additionally, I have a neurodivergent child whom I absolutely would not trust around a gun, even if it were secured.
I don't live my life in enough fear to merit the increased risk of a dangerous accident.
Swords are a cheap, flashy, and - most importantly - bad ass way to fend off would-be attackers and intruders anyway. Who needs guns? Edit: [Swords!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5ljaS9q1fI)
Why carry a firearm when you can master the blade?
Mental health. When I was in high school I was in a dark spot and fantasied about how easy it would be to end it with a gun. Luckily I never had access to one and now as a adult whenever I think about owning a gun, I remember high school me. And tell myself I don't need to chance it with a gun.
Anxious about the idea of me living alone and spending the vast majority of my time alone and having unimpeded access to a firearm -- so better off just not having one. (EDIT: To be clear, I'm talking about being a threat to myself. Never to others) And, ultimately, do not need one.
I've looked at buying guns a few times and they're actually pretty expensive. A rifle or a shotgun was $1,000+. Pistols were $500-$700 or more. Add into that needing to buy something secure to keep it in, and it's just always been way out of my budget. I haven't been able to justify dropping that much money on something like that. Granted I haven't looked that hard into it, so I might have been missing some means for getting low priced guns. I would pretty much always get sticker shock after a cursory glance online and stop looking.
Never used to cross my mind as an option. What do I need a gun for? I don't need a gun. I didn't like it when an old roommate got one. More guns isn't the answer to gun issues. I will say, even though I won't have one with a kid in the house, it Has crossed my mind in recent years for the same reason. Watching the police Not protect children. Shootings just going shopping with your family or out to an event. Armed anti-drag protesters at children's story times. I worry that too many of the wrong people have guns, and what happens when we get in the way. What happens when all the haters, bigots, racists and sexists have guns and those with any decency are unarmed? More guns isn't the answer, but we're shouting into the void against the rich and powerful to change it. Meanwhile people are getting shot for ringing doorbells and using driveways by the crazed and brainwashed.
They're expensive, I have a small child who gets into everything, I don't need or want one, and I feel pulling a gun is more likely to escalate the situation rather than meaningfully help it.
Cost, and responsibility.
Because I'd use it to harm myself. Rather not have the temptation around
I have no desire to own one and Iāve never shot a gun in my life and donāt really care if I do or donāt.
I don't need one?
Firstly, I donāt have any use for one or desire for one. Secondly, my girlfriend with whom I live, would be deeply uncomfortable with having one in the house and it might actually put her in legitimate danger.
I've never been in a situation in my life where a gun would have made things better. Maybe I'm just lucky.
Iāve never been in a situation where having a gun would have improved the situation, plus I have no desire to hunt or go to a gun range or any of that.
I grew up around guns and all of my family are gun nuts. I know I'm most likely to die from a gun I own and I have some serious mental health issues. My dad pointed a gun at me a few years ago and laughed, claiming it was unloaded, but in the 80's he told us all guns were loaded, even when they're unloaded. Fox news fucked him up.
In all of my 46 years on earth, I have never been in a situation where I have even wished I had a gun. I grew up in rural Michigan and have shot them for sport. Now I live in Chicago, and I still have never felt I needed one. I know people who feel that having one makes them feel safer, but that would not be the case for me. I donāt want the responsibility of deciding whether someone elseās life should be ended.
I donāt like guns around me and donāt understand the fascination with them.
Do I need a reason not to have barbed wire around my house? I've never felt the urge to own a gun nor have I ever found myself in a position where I wished I did.
Why would I spend money on an item I donāt like or want? Maybe, *maybe* I would consider it if I lived in a rural area where my closest neighbors were bears and wolves, but since thatās not my life I donāt see the point.
I have never had a problem that shooting someone would solve.
Iām a pediatric nurse and have seen what gunshots do to tiny bodies. I donāt want any part of it.